Hoverfly Spotter Jun26 Sightings – part 2

Magical Hotspots – Not Just Hot Weather!

Three counties, three magical hotspots for flowers, butterflies, bees, dragonflies and hoverflies. What did I spot, and why are these places so special?

Many of my posts explore the idea of “hotspots” — places I visit to sit and listen to a natural soundscape, spend time watching nature, or a wander in search of sightings. Sometimes it’s a garden, or a brownfield site, or somewhere a bit more well-known, but wherever it is, you will often find me poking my pots and net into colourful borders in the hope of spotting pollinators going about their work among the blooms.

As a natural historian with a particular interest in hoverflies, I’ve come to realise that a hotspot can exist in many forms and habitats. It doesn’t have to be rare or remote — it can be anywhere nature is thriving.

So, I’d like to share three special places from my recent outings, and what makes them so rewarding to visit.

Hoverfly Spotter Jun26 Sightings – part 1

Rievaulx Abbey, Ashberry Nature Reserve & Old Byland

Tales from a trip to a wet meadow to find new hoverflies, wildlife on a walk to an old church in Old Byland & critters found along a woodland ride. 

Join me as I explore the rich tapestry of wildlife in and around an Abbey in the North Yorkshire Moors. 

Last week, I headed to the North Yorkshire Moors for a cottage getaway. My partner and I stayed at Ashberry Cottage, a small farm just across the field from Rievaulx Abbey. We’d visited before, but much later in the season, so this time we wanted to experience it in spring rather than autumn—to see if it offered something different. And it certainly did.

What made it even more special was being completely off-grid: no internet, no phone signal - just the two of us and nature.

Armed with a hand lens, a sweep net, and plenty of identification guides, we set out to explore the area, never straying more than a mile or two from the doorstep. The weather played a part in our plans, with heavy showers keeping us close in case the rain set in. Hoverflies tend to favour sunny intervals - not too hot, not too cold - which is why they’re sometimes known as “sun-flies.” But this trip wasn’t just about hoverflies. I was keen to broaden my focus to include flowers, bees, moths, bats, and especially other flies, inspired by a recently purchased field guide (review here).

Orange-tip Butterfly – Clementine.

Orange-tip Butterfly Clementine - the second part of this amazing story.

A visit from a female Orange-tip butterfly to the garden in April presented an opportunity too good to miss — to follow the progress of an egg she laid, its hatching into a tiny orange caterpillar, and watching it grow throughout May and into June.

Hi, I’m Mark. I’ve been studying hoverflies for over 10 years, frequently recording and writing about them in this publication. However, I’m also passionate about all aspects of nature and fascinated by all the joy it can bring. So, when the opportunity arose to sit and observe wildlife in my own garden it’s time to relax and simply enjoy the moment.

Clementine was born on the 8th of May — a minute orange caterpillar, no larger than a pencil nib and as fine as a strand of hair. So tiny was she that a hand lens was needed to see her at all. She had hatched from a speck of an orange egg, had I not seen her mother lay it, I might easily have overlooked it.

Watching her grow and develop has been such a privilege - a spectacle to behold, bringing me so much pleasure over the past month.

If you’re new to my publication, or haven’t read my previous article, ‘Nature’s Joy – Orange-tip Butterfly Visit’, then please click here…

Hoverfly Genera Volume 2

Acrostic hoverfly postcards

Each slide explores a different genus: The genus name is split such that each letter forms a sentence, highlighting unique features of these incredible syrphids within each group, posted alongside artwork and habitat preferences.

All the photographs and artwork featured are my own, making this a truly personal project.

Just added Neoascia (fen-flies), 30th May 2026.

For more Acrostic postcards click on the links below:

Scaeva,Syrphus,Volucella,Helophilus and Episyrphus.

Visit often to explore the captivating world of hoverflies. Take a closer look at the diversity across different genera, and consider how their clever adaptations aid survival—particularly in avoiding predators and ensuring their genes continue into the next generation.

Neoascia

Hoverfly Spotter May 26 Sightings – part 2

Freiston, Frampton & Fen-Flies

Last weekend marked a significant birthday for my better half, celebrated with a visit to Boston and the surrounding fenland—now long since drained. Historically, this landscape was very different, so our trip became something of a whistle-stop tour, exploring villages of personal significance where her family once lived.

As my partner shares my love of wildlife, you’ll be pleased to hear this isn’t an article about family history, but rather a reflection on some of the natural history we encountered along the way, including visits to Freiston Shore and Frampton Marsh.